Skip to main content

Estrie Glace: The Cool Powerhouse of Estrie and Montérégie


In the heart of Quebec’s Estrie region, where rolling hills meet crisp winters, one company has turned ice into a hot commodity. Estrie Glace, based in Magog, isn’t just keeping drinks cold—they’re a major supplier shaping daily life and big projects across Estrie and Montérégie. From convenience store coolers to massive construction sites, this family-run business has spent over two decades proving that ice is more than just frozen water—it’s a vital resource. Let’s chill out and explore what makes Estrie Glace a standout in the region.

A Frozen Legacy Begins

Estrie Glace’s story started over 25 years ago, rooted in the Eastern Townships’ knack for turning natural assets into something practical. While the exact founding date is a bit hazy (think of it like ice fog clearing over Lake Memphrémagog), the company has been a steady presence since the late 1990s or early 2000s. What began as a modest operation has grown into one of eastern Canada’s biggest ice producers, thanks to a mix of grit, innovation, and a commitment to quality.

By 2014, Estrie Glace hit a milestone: a shiny new factory on Magog’s Boulevard Industriel. With a $1.5 million investment in 2019, they tripled their production capacity to 150 tons of ice per day—enough to fill a small hockey rink. This upgrade didn’t just boost output; it doubled their workforce and cemented their reputation as a regional heavyweight. Today, their freezer can hold up to a million kilograms of ice, ready to roll out at a moment’s notice.

Ice for Every Occasion

Estrie Glace isn’t your average ice vendor. They produce food-grade ice—cubes, blocks, and bulk—that’s pure enough to sip or preserve perishables. Their water is filtered four times on-site and tested regularly by independent labs, meeting the strict standards of the International Packaged Ice Association (I.P.I.A.). Whether it’s cubes clinking in your lemonade at a Montérégie campground or blocks keeping fish fresh at a Sherbrooke grocery, Estrie Glace delivers—literally. Their refrigerated trucks hum across Estrie and Montérégie seven days a week, stocking convenience stores, bars, and marinas.

But their reach goes beyond refreshment. Estrie Glace is a secret weapon in construction, supplying bulk ice (18 kg and up) to concrete plants. Cooling concrete with ice during the curing process—especially in summer heat—prevents cracks and boosts strength, a trick used in everything from Estrie’s bridges to Montérégie’s wind turbine bases. It’s a nod to old-school ingenuity, modernized for today’s megaprojects. And if that’s not eclectic enough, they even distribute fish bait—talk about a cool side hustle!

A Family Affair with Big Impact

At the helm are Samuel Bernard, the general manager and majority owner, and his father, François. Together, they’ve built Estrie Glace into a business that’s as much about community as it is about commerce. Samuel once told Le Reflet du Lac they considered expanding to the U.S., but chose to keep operations local, growing their market into nearby provinces and south of the border instead. It’s a strategic choice that keeps jobs and pride rooted in Magog.

Their ice doesn’t just serve customers—it reflects their values. “We filter the water four times. The ice goes everywhere,” Samuel has said, highlighting their obsession with purity. That dedication pays off: Estrie Glace earns perfect marks for food safety, and their product’s versatility—from concrete to coolers—sets them apart. During heatwaves, when demand spikes, they shift into high gear, ensuring no one’s left out in the cold (or the heat).

Beyond the Bags

Estrie Glace isn’t all business—they’ve got heart, too. In the past, they’ve rallied the community for events like the Ice Bucket Challenge to support the ALS Society of Quebec, showing they’re willing to pour their resources into good causes. Their presence in Estrie and Montérégie isn’t just economic; it’s cultural. In a region shaped by ice—think of the 1998 Ice Storm or winter fishing on Lake Massawippi—Estrie Glace fits right in, bridging tradition with modern needs.

The Future Stays Frosty

With climate change tweaking Quebec’s seasons, Estrie Glace is poised to adapt. Hotter summers mean more demand for ice, whether it’s cooling concrete or chilling drinks at a Granby barbecue. Their industrial-scale operation, paired with a small-town ethos, makes them a rare breed—a company that’s both a local gem and a regional titan. As Samuel puts it, they pay for every drop of water they use, a reminder of their responsibility to the environment that sustains them.

Next time you grab a bag of ice at a dépanneur or drive over a sturdy Estrie bridge, think of Estrie Glace. They’re not just freezing water—they’re fueling a region, one icy delivery at a time. In Estrie and Montérégie, where ice has always mattered, this Magog outfit is keeping the legacy cool.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From Canadian Roots to American Ownership: The Journey of Arctic Glacier

Arctic Glacier, a name synonymous with packaged ice across North America, has a rich history that spans over a century, beginning in the frigid winters of Winnipeg, Manitoba. What started as a modest Canadian operation harvesting ice from the Red River has evolved into a powerhouse in the packaged ice industry, now under American ownership . This transformation is a tale of entrepreneurial spirit, strategic expansion, financial turbulence, and a pivotal shift across borders. Let’s dive into how Arctic Glacier went from a Canadian-owned enterprise to an American-owned company. The Canadian Beginnings: A Legacy Forged in Ice Arctic Glacier’s story begins in 1882 with the founding of The Arctic Ice Company by Charles H. McNaughton in Winnipeg. Armed with two horses, a couple of wagons, and an icehouse, McNaughton and his partner James S. Nicholson carved out a business by cutting ice from the Red River, insulating it with sawdust, and delivering it to local residents. This was a quinte...
Post a Comment
Read more

The History of the Vogt Ice Maker: A Frozen Revolution

When you pop an ice cube into your drink or marvel at a perfectly chilled dessert, you might not think about the engineering behind it. But for over 85 years, Vogt Ice has been a name synonymous with ice-making innovation. From its game-changing invention in 1938 to its global reach today, the Vogt ice maker’s history is a cool tale of ingenuity, durability, and a relentless pursuit of quality. Let’s crack open the story of how Vogt turned ice into an art form—and a science. The Spark of a New Era The Vogt ice maker story begins in Louisville, Kentucky, with the Henry Vogt Machine Company, a firm already known for crafting heavy-duty industrial equipment by the early 20th century. Founded in 1880 by German immigrant Henry Vogt, the company had built a reputation for forging everything from steam engines to valves. But in 1938, Vogt engineers took a bold leap into uncharted territory: they invented the world’s first automatic sized ice machine, dubbed the Tube-Ice Machine. Before thi...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Icy Artistry: How Tube Commercial Ice Makers Like Vogt’s Craft Perfect Ice

When you grab a handful of cylindrical ice tubes from a bag or watch them tumble into your drink at a restaurant, you might not think about the engineering marvel behind them. Tube ice—those hollow, uniform cylinders—is a staple in industries from hospitality to packaged ice production, and machines like Vogt’s tube ice makers have been perfecting the process since the 1930s. But how exactly do these commercial powerhouses turn water into those sleek, hollow tubes? Let’s break down the fascinating mechanics of tube ice makers and explore why they’ve become an industry standard. The Basics of Tube Ice Tube ice is distinct for its shape: a cylinder with a hollow core, typically 1–2 inches long and varying in diameter (often 7/8" to 1-1/2"). This design offers a high surface area for rapid cooling, making it ideal for beverages, food preservation, and industrial uses like concrete cooling. Unlike cube or flake ice, tube ice is produced in a specialized process that Vogt pioneere...
Post a Comment
Read more